Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Shreveport, LA

NEW HORIZONS
ADVENT AND REPENTANCE
by:  Fr. Mark Watson, Pastor

We celebrate this Mass during the Season of Advent.  This is the Season in which we prepare for ways that the Lord comes at Christmas, into our lives each day and will come at the end of time.  This Sunday we are presented with John the Baptist who is offering a Baptism of repentance in order that the people of Jesus’ time would be prepare for his coming.

For me it is significant that an aspect of God’s plan was to have John the Baptist preach and baptize in the Jordan in order that the people of his time would be prepared for the coming of Jesus.  As powerful as was the person and message of Jesus, it was important that another went ahead of Jesus in order to challenge people to begin to change their lives. 

The Evangelist Mark presents the message of John by writing, “As it is written in Isaiah the Prophet:  Behold, I am sending my message ahead of you; he will prepare your way.  A voice crying out in the desert:  ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths Mark 1-3).’”

These verses are taken from the section of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah when the people of Judah are in exile in Babylon, in about 550 BC, and God is about to set them free.  The beginning of the Isaiah reading takes place in the heavenly council.  God tells the angels to “give comfort to my people (Isaiah 40:1).”  After about 60 years of exile God is about to set them free and lead them on a new exodus through the desert from Babylon to their homeland in Palestine.  God is also about to set them free from their sins which lead to the exile.  The Mosaic days of “covenant, protection and triumph are being actualized (Carroll Stulmueller, C.P.).”  The images of valleys filled in, mountains and hills made low, rugged land made a plain and the rough land being made a broad valley represent what God will do for the people as God leads them back to their homeland.

In his preaching, John gives these words of Isaiah a new meaning.  In Isaiah they refer to the work of God in bringing the people through the desert to their homeland.  In the Gospel, John challenges his hearers to  “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths (Mark 1:3).”  In order to prepare for the coming of Jesus, John challenged the people of his time to repentance, to turn from sin and to turn to God.

John is the herald that proclaims the urgency of preparing for the coming of Jesus.  Unlike the people of John’s time, we do know Jesus.  The question for us is not whether we have accepted Jesus but rather,  what are the daily obstacles which get in the way of our relationship with Christ?  As we prepare for his coming from what sins must we turn in order to grow in our relationship with Christ?  Thus, Advent is not just about waiting for our Savior, Advent is about making concrete changes in our lives so that we deepen our relationship with our Savior by the time we arrive at Christ.  And of course, continuing to allow these changes to grow as we move into the future and throughout our lives. 

CONCLUSION

John the Baptist challenged the people of his time to make the needed challenges in their lives to accept Jesus. For us who have accepted Christ and who do know Christ, what  obstacles are there in our lives which keep us from growing closer to Christ?  Advent offers us the opportunity to turn from the sin which gets in the way of a loving relationship with Christ.  In the midst of the hustle and bustle of Christmas may we turn from sin in order that our relationship with Christ will deepen now and into the future.

Sacred Heart will again have a Saturday evening mass beginning Saturday, October 3rd, at 5:30 pm. In addition, our Sunday morning mass schedule has changed to one mass at 11:00 am. Spread the Word, and hope to see you soon.  Beginning Wednesday, November 4th our masses for Wednesday and Thursday will be at 8:30 a.m.  

You can now donate/tithe/contribute online towards the needs of our church.
Please visit our online-giving page at the top bar of this page.

We, the parish of Sacred Heart, are committed to enriching the Spirituality of the parish family, the Christian community, and all brothers and sisters created in God's divine image and likeness.  We are called by the Holy Spirit, under the leadership of our Bishop and Pastor, to assist others through the development and promotion of various ministries.  We pray for Divine guidance that we may serve others with truth, courage, forethought, and compassion.

If you have already, completed your 2020 Census form please, accept our thanks! If you have not had the opportunity, to complete your 2020 Census form please, do so as soon as possible. State funding depends on the Census Count. There are (3) ways to complete your Census form. Phone 844-330-2020 - Quick and Easy Online at 2020census.gov Mail in your form (If you have, a Post Office Box you will not receive the census form.) In addition, please encourage other family members, friends, co-workers, fellow parishioners, and neighbors to be counted in the 2020 Census by reaching out to them via phone, text, email, Face-book or Instagram. Thanks for your support!
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Congratulation Raney Johnson
With praise and Thanksgiving to Almighty God. Raney Christopher Johnson was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacon, through the imposition of hands and the Invocation of the Holy Spirit by His Excellency Most Reverend Francis I. Malone, Bishop of Shreveport. On Saturday, June 27, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in the morning at St. Mary of the Pines Church 1050 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport, LA 71118. Congratulations Raney. Best wishes on your continued journey to the Priesthood.
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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DEACON CLARY
Deacon Clary was ordained to the permanent diaconate 34 years ago this Sunday the 28th. Deacon Clary has had a wonderful ministry and is a blessing to Sacred Heart. He gives freely of his many talents and keeps the "Little Church with the Big Heart" going strong. Please keep him in your prayers and let him know how much you appreciate all that he does for everyone.

Confessions will be after the 8:30 am Mass on Wednesdays from 9 am to 10 am..
By Appointment (Except Mondays)

Location:
4736 Lyba Street
Shreveport, LA   71109

Postal Mail:
PO Box 19467
Shreveport, LA   71149-0467

Rectory:            318-635-2121
Church:             318-635-2121
Fax:                  318-635-5226
Gabriel Hall:     318-635-5446